Travel Alternatives to Avoid Delays during the Hot August Nights Event

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is asking motorists to consider alternate routes and avoid peak travel times when traveling on Interstate 80 (I-80) over the Sierra Nevada during the Hot August Nights event. Highway 70 may see increased traffic.

Major delays are expected on I-80 due to lane restrictions and narrowed lanes between Truckee and the Nevada State Line during the Hot August Nights event. Delays in excess of 45 minutes can be expected. To help lessen the delays, Caltrans recommends avoiding traveling between 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Motorists are encouraged to travel early to their destination and extend their stay, if possible, to avoid delays.

To minimize delays, Caltrans recommends that motorists consider the following alternate routes to Reno:

Due to ongoing construction, only three of the four traffic lanes are available and lanes widths have been narrowed to 11 feet. The lane availability this week is as follows:

10 a.m. Thursday, August 5 through 6 a.m. Sunday, August 8:

Westbound – 1 lane

Eastbound – 2 lanes

6 a.m. Sunday, August 8 through 10 p.m. Monday, August 9:

Westbound – 2 lanes

Eastbound – 1 lane

The lane and width restrictions are part of the $71 million Truckee River Canyon project on I-80 between Truckee and the Nevada State line. This project is designed to replace the worn roadway pavement, replace the existing median barrier and guardrail, improve drainage and increase shoulder widths. Completion is scheduled for the Fall of 2011.

Caltrans also recommends to use caution in this area and to "Slow for the Cone Zone". For more information, visit www.getacross80.com.